Article for Camp Floyd Historical Lodge #205 First Newsletter (October 2023)

From the West

Brethren All,

It seems we, as a Historic Lodge, have lost our way. During the COVID pandemic, we lost our motivation. Our mojo if you will. Our purpose in being. Our attendance at our yearly election and information meetings the past couple of years has only had enough brethren to open on the Master Mason degree. Our latest Zoom meeting was attended by the stalwarts of Utah Masonry but those in attendance were few. We haven’t garnered many new members of any considerable number for almost a half-decade. We haven’t performed a degree at a Utah lodge’s request in many years. So why should we continue to be and not just turn in our charter?

The question was raised during our Zoom meeting. Why was Camp Floyd Historic Lodge No. 205 F. & A. M. created? Well, let’s go on a dive, shall we?

We must look no further than the proceedings of Communication of the Grand Lodge of Utah recorded in January of 2010 (a copy of which is located on the George Washington Masonic National Memorial website. It is reported here verbatim from page 102.

CONSTITUTION OF CAMP FLOYD HISTORIC LODGE NO. 205

Camp Floyd Historic Lodge had its beginnings with the first “outdoor” degree performed by Wasatch Lodge No. 1 in the schoolhouse of Camp Floyd State Park May 22, 2004. Wasatch Lodge continued to perform the degree at Camp Floyd through 2009. In March of 2009, the decision was made to form an historic lodge commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Freemasonry in Utah. This new lodge would have as its birthplace, Camp Floyd, Utah, the recognized birthplace of speculative masonry in Utah. On May 23, 2009, Camp Floyd Historic Lodge, sponsored by Rocky Mountain Lodge, was granted dispensation to form a new lodge, whose sole purpose was to preserve the legacy left by the members of Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 205. After Camp Floyd Historic Lodge was instituted, the officers for the new lodge were appointed and installed. For the next several months, organizing and special degree meetings were held to complete the requirements of dispensation. On January 29, 2010, at the 138th Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Utah, the Grand Lecturer, WB Allen W. Record reported to the Grand Master, MWB Loyd E. Davis and the delegates assembled that Camp Floyd Historic Lodge UD had completed the ritual requirements while under dispensation and was eligible to submit its application for chartering. After the Grand Lecturer’s report, the Grand Master called the craft from labor to refreshment and prepared to Constitute Camp Floyd Historic Lodge. The brethren from the lodge assembled, surrendered the lodge certificate of dispensation, and submitted a petition to be chartered. The lodge was constituted by MWB Davis and the Grand Lodge Officers, and the Lodge Officer were installed.

Details of that wonderful day our historic lodge received our charter as a lodge can be found on page 25 of that same record. In attendance that day were most of the sittings Grand Lodge of Utah officers as well as 50 Master Masons, M. W. Brother Rocky Weaver, Grand Master of Missouri, M. W. Brother Michael A. Sutton, Past Grand Master of Idaho, and R. W. Brother Gary Desk, Deputy Grand Master of New Mexico.

Telling, isn’t it? Our Historic Lodge’s sole purpose is to “preserve the legacy left by members of Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 205.” What does preserving that legacy mean? It could mean many things.

Could that legacy be the retelling of some obscure part of Utah’s masonic history? Is there some part of our Masonic heritage that needs to be shared? It really could be anything if it is tied to our history as the Grand Lodge of Utah, which is the actual legacy left by those early masons of Rocky Mountain Lodge. If you have or know of something, write it up and pass it along to our historical lodge secretary/historian. Jot your idea down on a piece of paper and share it with a brother. It could be something as simple as how did Wasatch Lodge decided on its name, or how and why did two lodges combine to form Golden Spike No. 6? Maybe you know some chronicle of a great Utah mason who deserves some recognition for his extraordinary efforts supporting speculative masonry in Utah. Collaborate and research that idea out. Then, share your findings with the rest of us. I am sure we would all love to read it, and have it recorded in this soon-to-be regular newsletter.

Maybe preserving that legacy is participating on the Historic Lodge’s degree team. Put yourself on the line and put that Master Ritualist award to work by sharing your talent for a brother being initiated, passed, or raised. Take the degree performance to a new level by gathering the period clothing worn by those who served in Rocky Mountain Lodge N. 205. Perform that degree for our soon-to-be newly obligated brother in the period clothing worn by our historical mentors. Wouldn’t that wow the candidate and leave a lifelong impression? Plus, you get the added benefit of serving a sister lodge in need of your assistance. Maybe your bailiwick isn’t performing during the degree but coaching, directing, and mentoring those who will be presenting what the degree is. This could help to preserve this legacy as well.

Another way to preserve that legacy is via art. Do you have a talent for it? Maybe you are a painter and can depict some great event from our heritage. Copies of these could be shared in this newsletter, possibly placed in the Salt Lake or other local temple. What about a pinup calendar of black and white photos of all the Masonic buildings in Utah (past and present)? Something that could be sold as a fundraiser to support a beloved lodge charity. Maybe designing and building belt buckles is your thing. Have a challenge coin idea? Could something like that help leave a legacy?

Sorry for rambling on. I have so many thoughts. There are so many ideas on how to continue the legacy of Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 205. What thoughts do you have? How do we all continue this idea started by M. W. Brother John Liley, M. W. Brother Loyd Davis, and W. Brother Michael Moon? Please let your historical lodge officers know your feelings and ideas. This lodge has so much potential and such a legacy to continue. We need your ideas, your desire, and your determination to leave a legacy of legacy.

Fraternally
Gary T. Roberts, Senior Warden

Wearing a Masonic Ring

As a purely personal choice, many brethren like to wear a Masonic ring on their hand. Often, that ring is adorned with the square and compasses.

A common unspoken rule says that you should wear it with the square and compasses facing you (i.e., the bottom of the square and the two tips of the compasses towards you) before you make it through the chair and, once you have sat in King Solomon’s chair, reverse it and have them facing away from you. This is made to mimic the perspective you would have on them during your lodge meeting based on whether you sit in the East or anywhere else. Conversely, if your lodge positions the compasses in the opposite way (i.e., facing toward the master rather than the candidate), then it feels reasonable you could justify reversing the guidance above.

-author unknown